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United unveils 10 new routes in plan to bolster its hubs - USATODAY.com
United unveils 10 new routes in plan to bolster its hubs
By Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY Updated 2h 35m ago
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United Airlines announced today that it will add nonstop service between its San Francisco hub and both Paris and Taipei, Taiwan. The routes are among 10 United is announcing today, a move the carrier says it is making both to meet customer demand and "to be the clear leader in service and choice in each of our hub cities."
United expects its San Francisco-Taipei service to begin April 9, pending regulatory approval. The carrier will fly one daily round-trip flight using 269-seat Boeing 777 aircraft that seat 8 in United Global First, 40 in BusinessFirst, 104 in Economy Plus, and 117 in coach.
United's San Francisco-Paris route will begin April 11. The airline will fly one daily round-trip flight on Boeing 767-jets configured with 214 seats – 30 in BusinessFirst, 49 in Economy Plus and 135 in economy.
Other new routes that United is announcing today include:
Chicago O'Hare-Monterrey, Mexico: Daily service to Monterrey will begin on Dec. 19, subject to government approval. United's United Express affiliates will fly the route on Canadair CRJ700 regional jets aircraft with 66 seats – six in first class, 28 in Economy Plus and 32 in economy.
Chicago O'Hare-Thunder Bay, Ontario: United will begin daily United Express service between Chicago O'Hare and Thunder Bay, Ontario, starting Feb. 14. United's United Express affiliates will fly the route with 50-seat Canadair CRJ200 regional jets.
Chicago O'Hare-Nassau, Bahamas: Beginning Feb. 9, United will start seasonal service to Nassau. United's United Express affiliates will fly one round-trip flight each Saturday through July 27. The route, subject to regulatory approval, will be on 66-seat Canadair CRJ 700 jets.
Chicago O'Hare-Jackson, Miss.: United will begin daily United Express service between Chicago O'Hare and Jackson starting Nov. 4. United's United Express affiliates will fly the route with 50-seat Embraer ERJ-145 regional jets.
Chicago O'Hare-Anchorage: United will begin service between Chicago and Anchorage for "the winter peak-travel period" of Dec. 19, through Jan. 2. United, which will use 154-seat Boeing 737-800 jets on the route, says "this service is in addition to United's summer- season flights between Chicago and Anchorage."
Denver-Williston, N.D.: Beginning Nov. 4, United's United Express affiliates add three daily round-trip flights between Denver and Sloulin Field International Airport in Williston. The United Express service will operate with Embraer ERJ-145 regional jets.
Los Angeles-Kelowna, British Columbia: Beginning Dec. 19, United's United Express affiliates will add nonstop service Los Angeles and Kelowna. The flights will be flown on 66-seat Canadair CRJ700 regional jets.
Washington Dulles-San Salvador: Beginning Dec. 19, United will add daily nonstop service between Washington Dulles San Salvador International Airport in El Salvador, subject to government approval. United will fly the route using 154-seats Boeing 737-800 jets.
"These additional services underscore three commitments -- to fly where our customers want to fly, to introduce new flights where we can profitably do so, and to be the clear leader in service and choice in each of our hub cities," Jim Compton, United's executive vice president and chief revenue officer, says in a release.
United spokesman Mary Clark tells Today in the Sky the new routes aren't necessarily the result of cuts elsewhere, but rather come from "ongoing scheduling changes" and "more efficient flying."
Still, Clark says that even with today's route announcement, United will stay within its previously announced 2012 capacity guidance.
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First United Airlines Dreamliner to arrive in late September - USATODAY.com
First United Airlines Dreamliner to arrive in late September
By Nancy Trejos, USA TODAY Updated 20h 15m ago
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CAPTIONBy ADRIAN DENNIS, AFP/Getty Images
United Airlines has announced that it will take delivery of its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner in late September.
The Chicago-based airline will be the first North American Airline to fly the new aircraft.
The airline said in a news release Monday that the aircraft cabin was being installed and that it would be configured with 36 seats in United BusinessFirst, 72 seats in United Economy Plus and 111 seats in United Economy.
The airline provided other details about the cabin interior. in The cabin color will use a palette of blue and grey. The cabin will also have better lighting, bigger windows, larger overhead bins, lower cabin altitude, and enhanced ventilation systems. The in-flight entertainment system has more filtering options, allowing travelers to search for programs by language.
READ MORE: Boston is the first city to land Dreamliner
PHOTO GALLERY: Boeing finally delivers its first 787 Dreamliner
JAL's Japanese rival All Nippon Airways (ANA) was the first to fly the Dreamliner in October between Tokyo and Hong Kong.
The Chicago Tribune notes that the Dreamliner "is a twin-aisle plane that offers the best fuel economy and range for a craft its size and offers passengers greater comfort while flying. However, the plane is just as well known for incurring lengthy production delays. Chicago-based Boeing delivered its first 787 about three years late because of design and construction problems."
According to the Wall Street Journal, "While United had previously said it expected the first to arrive in September, Monday's statement indicates its increased confidence in the delivery information provided by Boeing."
United said it is planning to place five Boeing 787s into service in 2012. It has firm orders for a total of 50 new Dreamliners, with deliveries scheduled through 2019.
PHOTO GALLERY: Boeing 787 Dreamliner's inaugural flight takes off
The company said that the 787 has 30% more range and uses about 20% less fuel than similarly-sized aircraft while reducing emissions and noise during takeoffs and landings.
"Because of these advantages, the 787 will open up new non-stop destinations that customers would not be able to otherwise reach on United, such as the recently-announced Denver-to-Tokyo service that starts next spring," the company said in its release.
In preparation for the arrival of the first Dreamliner, United has installed a full-flight simulator at its Houston hub and is training its pilots. Flight attendants and mechanics have also been trained.
United will provide maintenance support from its Houston base, where the airline is warehousing more than 1,180 different spare parts.